Joel Sherman of The New York Post reports that Morse is “very available” as the MLB’s non-waiver trade deadline approaches Wednesday. That means if the Mariners get a favorable bid for Morse, they may accept a trade offer by the 1 p.m. PDT deadline.

That doesn’t mean there aren’t other teams talking with the Mariners about Morse, who has batted .251 with 11 home runs in just 56 games this season. He hadn’t played since June 20, and returned to Seattle’s active roster Monday after a stint in Tacoma to rehabilitate a strained quadriceps.

Morse, 31, started the season on a tear, hitting six homers in his first nine games. But a finger injury slowed him down in April and he has battled a few injuries since then, including the quadriceps strain.

He also is on only a one-year contract reportedly worth $6.75 million. With Morse hitting free-agency at the end of the season, the Mariners might be smart to cash in now on his potential to take his powerful bat to a contending team.

Meanwhile, the Mariners have found new life with their new core of youngsters. Led by Nick Franklin, Brad Miller and Mike Zunino — with the veteran help of Raul Ibanez and Kendrys Morales — the M’s don’t exactly need a potential impact player like Morse as much as they used to.

That makes Morse one of the leading candidates for a Mariners deadline trade, if they make one at all. Will general manager Jack Zduriencik make a move? We’ll know the answer by 1 p.m. Wednesday.

Mike Morse very available. #Yankees liked in offseason when #Nationals were moving him, but told no serious talks with #Mariners at present